Sandwell Council is running a community consultation on a potential change to its election cycle.
Council elections in Sandwell are currently undertaken ‘by thirds’. This means that all councillors are elected for a term of four years, with one third of council seats being up for election each year for the first three years of the cycle. There are no elections in the fourth year.
One option is retaining the current process. The benefits of this system include new councillors being elected more frequently. Voters are able to react sooner to local circumstances, providing more immediate political accountability and it's a system that residents are used to.
The alternative would see a whole council or ‘all-out’ election. This process would see all councillors up for election at the same time once every four years and would provide more stability for the council to adopt a more strategic, long-term approach to policy and decision making.
It would also reduce the number of elections held from three to one and, in turn, would reduce the cost of running elections. Residents can find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of election at sandwell.gov.uk/electionoptions.
Residents aged 18 and over will be able to indicate their preferred system by completing a short survey. Councillors will then consider all the feedback received and come to a decision on how to move forward. Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, said:
“These arrangements are fundamental to local democracy and it is therefore essential that local people are consulted regarding their preferences. I look forward to hearing from residents and taking on board their views.”
You can get more information about the election cycle, or ask any questions about the consultation, by email. Leaflets and paper versions of the survey are available in all libraries and Sandwell Locals.
Translated copies of the survey are available on request. The survey closes on 16 September 2022.
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